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1
Penguin Girl, Woman, Other
A stunning portrait of Black British womanhood that spans 12 interlinking stories over 100 years, this is nothing like anything you've read before.
Girl, Woman, Other is a poetic and literary masterpiece that's poignant, funny, warm and very readable - one which should be one everyone's bookshelves.
Set in an inverted world where 'whytes' are enslaved by Black people, this is the story of Doris, who is happily living in England until she's captured and sent on a slave-ship to the New World.
Blonde Roots is a brilliant and refreshing read.
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Barrington Jedidiah Walker, 74, was born a bred in Antigua but has lived in London's Hackney since the '60s. Here, he lives a double life, hiding his homosexuality from his wife and children and having an affair with his childhood friend, Morris.
Written in Evaristo's trademark sumptuous style, this book is witty, thoughtful and a joy to read.
Stanley is grieving for his Jamaican father and wondering whether there's more to life than his city job; Jessie is a barmaid desperate for an adventure.
Together, the unlikely pair road trip through Europe in this utterly original and experimental novel about hope and belonging.
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5
Penguin The Emperor's Babe
Written in blank verse and set in Roman London, Zuleika is sold by her father as child bride to a wealthy man. Her life with him is unfulfilling and sad, until she catches the eye of the Roman Emperor.
Fresh and sublimely written, it may be set 1800 years ago but the piece of fiction itself is modern and alive.
The first book Evaristo published, Lara is a semi-autobiographical tale of being a mixed-raced girl raised in '60s and '70s London.
Both funny and heartbreaking, this novel is as deft as it is groundbreaking.
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